7 vi

Erika (O.View)

I let her in and sat on the couch.

" It must have been odd for me to come here, " she started talking.

I didn't respond but I sat parallel to her.

She chuckled dryly and ran her fingers through her hair.

I keep up a straight face and started reading the files in front of me.

I almost jumped off my feet the moment I saw her shrieked in pain, she was almost kneeling in the ground.

Everything went in so fast, after that.

I came for her aid and was startled when she held my wrists very tight that I pulled it away forthwith! She was so cold and was shaking uncontrollably.

I immediately called Taylor and in between, found a small plastic bottle with a pain reliever labeled on it fell from her pocket.

" You need this, " I told her. She nodded.

I took one tablet and helped her consumed it.

After a few minutes, she calmed down and helplessly sat on the floor. I helped her back on the couch.

I was walking back and forth as I wait for Taylor. Lea's not doing any better and I do not fucking know what to do.

When Taylor arrived, he was with other medical crew. They brought Lea out of the building using the back door to avoid the media.

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Days turn into weeks, I am here at the St. August University staring at Megan. She was at the library specifically at the back part crying in silence. She has been like this for weeks.

She, however, still works at the Pink Palace but she's not doing well in there, either. She keeps causing trouble being absent-minded most of the time.

PINK PALACE

Megan is a waitress for tonight. I was at the counter staring intently at her. She is walking down the stairs when she accidentally slips off the last step.

The drinks on her hand fell and splashed unto a woman's dress. The woman yells at her and she was led by the manager outside.

The manager left her beside a parking space, after that.

She started sobbing a minute later.

I approached and lent her my handkerchief.

She looks at me with teary eyes.

" Griffin?" she exclaimed a bit and stood up. She was wiping her tears with her hands.

" Use this, " I commanded her, referring to the handkerchief.

" It's okay--"

" I said use this, "

" O-okay, "

She took it and wiped her cheeks.

" About the incident happened a few weeks ago, I'm sorry for being so rude and yelling at you like that... I was just... I don't know... I was scared. Thank you for saving me, " she said with a hint of perplexed.

" You saved yourself, " I responded.

She was taken aback.

" What? No, you punched him, right? He was on the floor shrieking in pain,"

I looked at her intently as she says those words. She still looks so good after crying a minute ago.

" Wait, I did. I kicked his balls, right? Is that why he was on the floor shrieking in pain?"

I keep up a straight face.

" Oh my! I did! I must have hit it so hard that bastard yells in pain! " she exclaimed and chuckled " But what we're you doing on that part?" she asked suspiciously.

" I own the building beside that alley, "

" Oh, the Louisiana Building, right. "

" What we're you doing out here?" I asked.

" Unfortunately, my manager got me fired. I've been keeping trouble this past few weeks so..."

" Why is that?"

She shrugged and started crying, again.

" I'm so sorry. I need to cry this out, "

I look away and glanced at the nearby amusement park.

" I've never been to that place, "

She stopped sobbing and followed my gaze.

" The amusement park?"

I started walking.

" Hey, wait, "

" You should at least be my company. I saved you, after all, "

" I saved myself, "

" If I would have said nothing, he would have not untightened his grip on you, "

She stopped and realized it.

" You are right, I wouldn't have been able to kick his balls if you hadn't distracted him, "

I hide a smile.

" I can't believe I'm walking with you to the amusement park, " Megan said.

" Why'd you say that?" I asked.

" You've been my unsuccessful bully for like half of my life, "

She chuckled but I didn't respond.

" Did you remember that slingshot you were trying to point at me the first time we met? You failed me at that!"

I smiled a bit.

"...and that balut prank. I loved it! I was like... 'you can't fool me, prankster!',"

She chuckled more but halted as long as she saw something.

" Oh, I remember that..." she said and pointed at my metal bracelet.

FLASHBACK OF 2007

Last summer, I visited grandma and met this girl named Megan but I called her 'uglymegan'. Unfortunately, I met her again and this time, the new year's eve in St. August Church. She was looking at the fishes on a water fountain. Actually, she's trespassing, that part is private.

I discreetly approached her and was planning to push her in there. Unfortunately, I slipped off and accidentally tossed my hand in the water. I didn't notice my metal bracelet went off and drifted down the fountain floor but Megan did. She dives into the water without further ado. My mom saw what happened when she was out looking for me. She then tried looking for help.

I was astounded to see how deep the water fountain was.

When she walked out of the water everyone was looking at us. She got my bracelet with her.

" This water fountain is not safe! It doesn't have barricades or any sign of saying people it's a danger zone, " my mom complained to the custodian.

" This is a private property Ma'am, the girl is actually assigned to look for the fishes living on the water fountain, "

" What?" she said and looked around " Oh my! I'm so sorry. I must have asked, " she added after she realized it's actually not anymore a part of the church.

" Your son may have dropped this into the water. She dove in there to get it," the custodian showed her my bracelet.

Mom looked at my wrist and to me.

" You brat, " she muttered and gave her thanks to the girl.

I looked at the girl and rose my brows. She thinks I'm gonna thank her for that!

I crossed my arms and rolled my eyeballs.

" Show off, " I muttered.

END OF FLASHBACK

" You still have it, " she said referring to the bracelet.

" I have it elongated. This was my dad's, actually, "

" Oh, is it? Well, you didn't think I saw you, right?"

" Where?"

" I saw you approaching me in the water fountain. I saw your reflection, "

" I was about to push you in the water, "

" What? You're so rude! Why'd you do that?"

I shrugged my shoulders.

" It doesn't make you cool or something, "

" You piss me off every time, "

It's my turn to shrug my shoulders " I know. I'm good at it,"

I smirked. She's unbelievable.

We finally arrived at the amusement park.

" I've been in here for like a hundred times and it's your first time, I can't believe that but yeah, first off we'll ride that, " she told me and pointed the carousel " And I'm not paying, remember I just got fired, " she added and pulled me.

I looked at her hand holding mine. She has rough hands, tho.

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We've been to different rides and every time we switch one, I barf my guts out.

" Griffin, you can do this! " she cheered while patting my back.

'Fuck! I'm not doing this again,' I keep telling myself but I can't tell her 'NO' because I was the one who draggged myself into this fricking amusement park.

" We'll ride the Ferris Wheel and you'll totally be just fine with this one, I promise you. ," she said and pointed the biggest ride around.

Megan noticed my knees trembling as I step into one of those square cells.

She laughed her heart out and patted my back.

" You'll be fine!" she assured me.

...and believing her is the worst thing I have done.

After that last ride where I almost lost it, she finally brought me up to a higher place where I can grab some real air to breathe in and relax my haywire being.

It was called the Cool Off Studio. It actually has an impressive overview of the Sasa Bay.

Megan approached me with two bowls of soup on her hands. It actually smells so good.

She put the first one in front of me and the other in front of her.

" Dig in, " she said and smiled.

It's still hot so I carefully sipped on the bowl.

' It was good' I thought.

When I looked at her, she devours everything inside the bowl making it nearly half-empty in just a second!

I totally forgot she eats like a relic!

I looked at my bowl almost untouched and compared it to her.

She's unbelievable.

" So, I was wondering like... how do you manage your time? I guess I'm so lucky to have your spare time, " she said after finishing off her last bite on her bowl.

I looked at it and at her.

" I don't, " I responded.

" You don't? What does that suppose to mean? "

" I own my time, "

She shrugged her shoulders.

" I have a proposal, " I said.

" A proposal?"

" Yes, "

" To me?"

I nodded.

" I promoted Tif, my apartment cleaner, she's full time in my office now so..."

" Wait, are you like taking me back as your apartment cleaner?"

I nodded.

" Oh my god! You nodded! " she exclaimed " Please don't take it back, " she added with tears in her eyes.

I smiled.

" Thank you so much!"

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FLASHBACK

I saw Megan sitting in the waiting area of the Louisiana Building. She was holding a brown folder.

I whispered something to Tif. She nodded and immediately approached Megan. I walked into the elevator after that.

" She's underage but she's got consent from Louisiana Residentials, " Tif said.

I nodded and brushed my lips as I stare at a CCTV monitor.

It shows Megan currently tidying up my suite. Tif led her there. She's actually sent here by my mom to be my apartment cleaner.

" Tell everyone I'm taking a weekend off, " I commanded Tif and walked out the door.

I entered my suite and sat on my couch. I opened my MacBook and started grafting.

It's about 30 minutes after when I heard something fell on the floor. I glanced at where it was coming from.

Megan unfortunately cut her finger trying to pick up the broken pieces while she glances at me. It bled across her arms.

I immediately phoned someone and approached her after that.

" You should be more careful, " I said with a hint of irritation.

" I'll just pretend I didn't hear that coming from you, " she responded sarcastically.

I keep up a straight face and turned away.

I headed to the kitchen and took the medicine kit from the last cabinet to the left.

As I stepped out of there, I saw Megan talking to the sweeper guy.

I made a sound to grab their attention.

The sweeper guy saw me and immediately started doing what he's told as if Megan wasn't there.

Megan noticed that and glanced at me.

" Sit on the couch, " I commanded.

She pointed at herself.

I keep my straight face for a response.

She shrugged her shoulders and sat on the couch.

I lay the medicine kit on the center table and took the things I need to clean off her bleeding hands.

" It's too small it doesn't even hurt a bit, " she said.

" Give me your hand, "

" I can do it myself, "

I didn't respond but I pulled her hands and started cleaning off the blood scattered around it.

The sweeper guy bowed down before going out of the suite.

" You flirt as if your hands don't have blood in it, " I said.

" What?" she exclaimed.

I didn't respond.

" I was just talking to Roi. What is your problem?"

" So, you two are on a first-name basis, now?"

" I knew him because he was nice to me since I got here, "

" I thought so, "

She was trying to pull her hands away but I didn't let her.

" Let me finish cleaning it off, "

"... then stop being stupid, "

"... stop being a flirt, "

" I'm not, "

" You are, "

" I hate you, " she muttered in a low voice.

END OF FLASHBACK

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